Transcript What Are Microbes?

What Are Microbes?
Lisa Orton
How to identify a microbe?
Microbe
• Microorganisms are very tiny one-celled organisms,
viruses, fungi, and bacteria, and are found
everywhere in the world. They are found in all living
things, plants and animal.
• There are more microorganisms on and inside your
body than there are cells that make up your entire
body.
• Microorganisms can live in the air, on land, and in
fresh or salt water environments. Some of them,
pathogens, can be harmful and causes diseases, but
there are some microorganisms that are needed for
living things to survive.
Where do microbes live?
GOOD or BAD Microbes?
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Fungi are important decomposers of dead animal and plant matter. They break down dead
organic matter into simple compounds that can be absorbed by the plants around it.
During the process of decomposing matter, fungi returns carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere. Green plants use the carbon dioxide during photosynthesis to produce food.
Oxygen is released into the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis, so animal
and human life depends on the fungi for survival. Plants also benefit from fungi because
some fungi settle around the roots of plants. As the fungus decomposes dead matter
around the roots of the plant, it leaves behind nutrients that the plant needs. Some fungi,
like mushrooms, are used as ingredients in recipes. They add flavor to meals.
Viruses invade the cells of both plants and animals. They reproduce inside healthy cells
causing diseases that are hard to treat. There are no know anitibiotics or other medicines
that are known to kill viruses. Viruses like this Plum Pox attack plants and ruin the fruit. It is
spread from plant to plant by insects like this green peach aphid
Bacteria are decomposers, they break down the chemical elements inside other living or
dead organisms. Some bacteria live in the intestines of humans and animals. They
decompose, or break down food particles so that they can be digested. Other bacteria live
in the soil and water, they help break down dead matter there. Bacteria that live in the soil
also recycle carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and other chemical elements while decomposing
matter.
BAD Microbes
Bacteria
Colds
Prevention
Washing your
hands
Cause
Not Washing
your hands
Not drinking
after someone
Going to the
bathroom
Microorganisms and the Production of
Food for Humans
Lactic acid
bacteria
Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
Milk
Yeast
Wine
Bread
beer
Yogurt
Cheese
Interesting factoid about micro
organisms
• Bacteria are decomposers, they break down the
chemical elements inside other living or dead
organisms. Some bacteria live in the intestines of
humans and animals. They decompose, or break
down food particles so that they can be digested.
Other bacteria live in the soil and water, they help
break down dead matter there. Bacteria that live in
the soil also recycle carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and
other chemical elements while decomposing matter.
URLs
• http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212089/bac.
htm